From Chosen To Fated

Chapter 4 - Meeting Celeste

Ruby did not answer immediately. She stood in front of the bathroom sink, staring at her disheveled reflection. After a moment, the person outside the door knocked again.

“Ruby?” It was her mother.

“Yeah?”

“I was just checking on you when I didn’t see you on the couch.” Her mother said nervously.

Ruby stayed silent, not having an idea on how, or even a desire, to respond.

“Well, breakfast is on the table if you’re hungry.” Melody said through the door.

“Thanks, mom. I’m not hungry.”

“Sweetie, you need to eat.” her mother responded.

“I promise if I get hungry, I will eat.”

Ruby heard a sigh on the other side of the door and footsteps retreating. When she was sure that there was no one on the other side, she snuck out of the bathroom and crept up the stairs to her childhood bedroom.

Shortly after Torben turned 18, Ruby moved into his house and had spent the last year having a permanent slumber party with her best friend. Her heart ached when she realized that was over now. She looked around her room, realizing it looked mostly untouched. Ruby had left most of her things here as Torben had a fully furnished home. She sat down on her bed, feeling empty. Tears began to pool in her eyes, quickly threatening to spill over. She fell into her pillow, grief stricken. Sleep came quickly.

Ruby woke up some time later to a notification from her phone. She reached for her phone and saw that it was a text from her best friend, Celeste.

Celeste: I heard what happened. Are you ok? Actually, I know you’re not. Do you need anything? I can come over right now.

Ruby faintly smiled to herself at her friend’s kindness and concern. She texted back a quick message.

Ruby: I’m physically ok. But I feel so empty. I miss him already.

Celeste: I’m so sorry. I can brew you something to help you have a dreamless sleep if you want. It’s good for healing you mentally and your wolf.

Celeste was the granddaughter of a powerful witch that was mated and started a family with a warrior wolf. Celeste, like the other women in her family, inherited the magic. She used her gifts in the pack hospital as a healer. Her mother, in fact, was the lead healer that assisted the doctors in everything from physical pain to mental anguish.

Ruby: If I need that, I promise I will let you know. Thank you for checking on me.

Celeste: Of course. I’m at the hospital right now, but mom said I can leave early if you need me. I love you, my friend. Please let me know if you need anything at all.

Ruby: I love you too. I will.

Ruby put her phone down and stayed in bed. Before Celeste's text came in, she had been having a dream that she was lying in bed with Torben at their home. She had felt so peaceful in her dream and for a blissful second had forgotten her reality that she woke up to. She sighed deeply to attempt to prevent the sob she felt bubbling up through her chest. She looked out her window. It looked like evening was approaching. Her mom would knock on her door any minute to inform her that dinner was ready, but she still was not hungry.

Sure enough, Ruby heard a sharp knock on her bedroom door, but it was not her mother on the other side.

“Can I come in?” It was her father. Ruby nodded and gestured towards the foot of her bed. Jack took a seat.

“What can I do for you?” He asked genuinely. Ruby shrugged.

“Are you hungry?”

Ruby shook her head. Her father’s eyes filled with concern, “Have you considered seeing the healers?”

Ruby shook her head again.

“I think it’s been over 24 hours that you haven’t eaten and that’s not normal for a werewolf. Have you spoken to Scout since this all happened?”

It hit Ruby suddenly that she had not heard from Scout since her wolf told her she needed some time, “She told me she needed some time when we first heard, but I haven’t heard her since. I can barely feel her.”

Jack nodded his head in understanding, “I think that might be why you’re not hungry. I think you should go to Celeste.”

In addition to Celeste’s healing gifts, Celeste could also read auras and wolves, so her healing powers went beyond the physical. She was the only one in her family that could do this, which made her a specialist within the pack. After a few minutes of discussion, Ruby hastily agreed to making an appointment with Celeste at the pack hospital tomorrow. She texted her friend, let her know what was going on, and asked what time she could come in. Celeste responded that she could squeeze her in later in the morning. If nothing else, Ruby was excited to see her best friend.

The next day, Ruby was sitting in the waiting room, waiting for Celeste to call her back for her appointment. Ruby managed to make herself halfway presentable today, pulling a comb through her tangled curls and throwing it in a messy bun. While Ruby waited, she scrolled through social media on her phone in an attempt to distract herself from the pain she still felt. She refused breakfast again this morning, causing her mother to stifle a sob. She was comforted when Ruby shared that she was going to see Celeste today, but turned down her mother’s offer to accompany her.

“Ruby?” came Celeste’s voice, pulling Ruby’s attention away from her phone. She looked up and took in Celeste’s beauty. Ruby always thought that Celeste was the most gorgeous woman she ever saw. Celeste had shiny black hair that fell past her shoulders in beautiful loose waves. They framed her heart shaped face and high cheekbones. The most striking thing about Celeste’s appearance were her almond shaped, violet eyes, which contrasted beautifully with her dark, olive skin tone. Celeste's eyes were mesmerizing and always full of warmth.

Ruby collected herself and made her way through the door that led back to the exam rooms. Celeste guided Ruby to exam room six after recording her weight and height. Ruby took a seat on the exam table while Celeste placed herself by the computer. Celeste reached for Ruby’s hands and grasped them with both of hers.

“I’m glad you came and saw me.” Celeste said. Ruby forced herself to smile. She was glad too, but it did only a little to dull her sadness, “Your father called ahead. He wants me to see if I can read your wolf, but you’re an adult so what do you want?”

Ruby thought for a moment. She wanted to check on Scout, but she also wanted to run away. That is when an insane idea hit her.

“Is there a spell or potion that can make me not a werewolf?” Ruby asked suddenly. Celeste’s mouth dropped.

“Why in Goddess’ name would you want to do that?” Celeste exclaimed. She sounded hurt.

“I can’t deal with this pain and maybe I wouldn’t feel this much if I were just a human.”

“Even if there were such a thing, I would refuse to give it to you as your friend and medical provider.” Celeste scoffed, but she did not let go of Ruby’s hands, “Plus, do you realize that would mean that your wolf would disappear. Scout would cease to exist.”

Ruby did not think of that. She could not bear to lose Scout, too.

“You’re right. I absolutely don’t want to lose her, but is there anything I can do to not feel so much?” Ruby practically begged. Celeste sighed.

“Can I start by reading Scout?” She asked.

Ruby nodded. Celeste let go of Ruby’s hands to wash her own. After doing so and drying them, Celeste placed a palm on Ruby’s forehead and Ruby saw her eyes glaze over. Ruby closed her own eyes, a sudden tiredness overcoming her. After a few moments, Celeste removed her hand and Ruby’s tiredness evaporated as quickly as it came. She opened her eyes to look at Celeste. She was surprised to see Celeste look so concerned.

“What’s wrong?” Ruby asked.

“Scout didn’t want to come out and talk to me, but I could feel she’s very withdrawn. Have you felt her presence?”

“I can sense her, but it almost feels like she’s far away.”

Celeste clicked her tongue, clearly deep in thought.

“What’s wrong?” Ruby repeated.

“I’ve seen this with other wolves who lose their mate. This isn’t anything too uncommon with grief, but this is usually the case with older wolves who have been with their mate for years.”

“Well, I met Torben when I was 10 and I fell in love with him pretty immediately, but looking back, I thought it was just a deep friendship at that age.”

“That’s true.”

“So, what do I do?”

“This type of pain doesn’t go away quickly, if ever. Finding another mate, whether chosen or fated tends to help.” Celeste informed her.

“I don’t want another mate.” Ruby said stubbornly.

“Sometimes that’s not up to you. Selene works in mysterious ways.”

Ruby felt a sudden frustration and bitternes towards the Moon Goddess. How could anyone who claims to care about werewolves want them to feel this way?

“I don’t want another mate.” Ruby repeated, more aggressively than she meant to.

“So what can I, as your friend and medical provider, do for you?” Celeste asked kindly, despite Ruby's attitude.

Ruby sat there, thinking about how to answer the question. She thought about what Torben would want for her if he were still around to tell her. She knows that he would just want her to be happy, but how was she supposed to be happy without him? Torben would not want her to be alone, but she could not imagine taking another mate, especially her fated one. Torben and Ruby agreed to be their own kind of fated mates. Finding her true mate felt like an insult to his memory. Yes, that was out of the question. The question now was how could Ruby guarantee that she could avoid finding her true mate all together? Another crazy idea hit her.

“Have you ever heard of a werewolf living among humans?”